Adult Film Legend Hyapatia Lee to Star in New Film, but it's Not what you Might Think

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Screen Door Entertainment announces a new documentary, "Healing Hyapatia" following former 1980s adult film star Hyapatia Lee through treatment for multiple personality disorder.

Hyapatia Lee at the height of her fame in the 1980's

I made an appearance as Hyapatia Lee and then blacked out. When I woke up as Vicki, I had no recollection of what I had done or what happened. It was horrifying.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB)October 23, 2012

During the golden age of adult films in the 1980s, Hyapatia Lee was a sensation and the first adult star of Native American ancestry. At the peak of her career she starred in top grossing films and was a popular pin-up fantasy girl featured in dozens of magazines, including the all-time best selling issue of Penthouse.

But the fantasy was far from reality. Before she became a sex star, Hyapatia Lee was as an innocent girl named Vicki who endured years of emotional and sexual abuse. As a result, she developed multiple personalities and was diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder. The adult star Hyapatia Lee emerged as one of seven distinct personalities inhabiting the same body.

"Vicki doesn't know what Hyapatia does and Hyapatia has no idea what Vicki does," she states. "One time I made an appearance as Hyapatia Lee and then blacked out. When I woke up as Vicki, I had no recollection of what I had done or what happened. It was horrifying."

Because of a chance reunion with an old friend, the adult actress will soon be getting some help and be back in front of the cameras, but this time in a very different role. A new documentary, "Healing Hypatia," follows her progress as she seeks a cure for her multiple personality disorder. "I had therapy long ago" Lee says, "but I don't think they really knew what they were doing and it only made me worse. I'm hoping things have changed since then."

One of the filmmakers, Dave Garrison, is a successful producer and director and also a long time friend of Lee/Vicki. "Growing up, I knew her as a smart and talented girl when we'd appear in community theater productions together," says Garrison. "She was a delightful person and a really wonderful actress. I couldn't believe it when I realized years later that Vicki was also Hyapatia Lee."

After those early years, Garrison and Vicki eventually lost touch, but recently recognized each other on an airplane and the two old theater pals reconnected. When Vicki told him her incredible story of years of suffering with multiple personalities and the ineffective treatment, Garrison immediately had two reactions: "First, I told her that she needed to start getting treatment again," he says, "and, second, I thought this would be a fascinating story that could also help others who have the same condition."

Garrison sought the assistance of Joel Rizor, Executive Producer and CEO of Screen Door Entertainment, the Southern California based production company that specializes in documentary and docu-reality programming. Rizor suggested they shoot a documentary that follows Lee through every aspect of the treatment process and the two teamed up to launch the new project: "Healing Hyapatia."

While the filmmakers will focus on Hyapatia Lee as she explores conventional, alternative and even experimental treatments, they will also include other elements such as Lee reconnecting with some of her adult film friends and former colleagues. "I've lost so many friends in this industry to suicide," she says. "I want to talk with those who survived to see what I can learn from them and find out how they were able to overcome their own obstacles."

In order to retain creative control of the project, the producers plan to forgo more traditional financing methods and use Kickstarter as the main source of funding. "We hope people will see the potential here and get on board to be a part of this," stated Rizor, "not just because it's a great story, but because it can help bring more attention to Dissociative Identity Disorder and new methods of treatment."

Right now there's no telling how the Healing Hyapatia story will unfold. "First we need people to get involved and contribute to the project so we can start the cameras rolling" says Garrison. "Then, only time will tell if Vicki will find an effective therapy. With all that is available now, I think her chances are pretty good and it's definitely going to make for a fascinating film."

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